The design and construction of a liquor store is an important aspect of the overall success of the store and requires a strategic approach. From the moment customers walk through the door to the time they exit, every area of your store should be optimized to enhance their shopping experience and encourage purchases. In this article, we will explore the principles and strategies for the design and build of a liquor store that drives sales and promotes customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Importance of an Effective Liquor Store Design
A liquor store is much more than an array of various products offered for sale. The proper placement of products and brands is crucial to guiding customer behavior, enhancing the shopping experience, and ultimately increasing your sales. A well-designed layout can lead to higher customer engagement and retention.

Key components of Liquor Store Design
As a liquor store owner, you know that the key components of any liquor store include a large display beer cooler as well as shelves to present your liquor and wine. Of course all stores have these components, but what is it that will separate your establishment from that of your competition?
Beer cooler – The brands and variety of beers available to today’s consumer have and will continue to grow. Your beer cooler has to be sized large enough to contain sufficient amount of doors to display and access not only the brands people are looking for, but also for the varieties that people haven’t tried yet, but may have “heard of”. This way, your customer will not only pick up their favorite brand, but may also select another brand as an impulse purchase to “try”. The size of your premises will dictate the size of your cooler, but you should anticipate that a cooler with a minimum of 12 display doors but optimally 20 doors to sufficiently present and promote beer sales.

Also, you want you beer cooler to be sufficiently sized to create the ever popular “beer cave” to allow you not only to maintain your back stock of cases cold and ready for sale, but to allow your customers the opportunity to self serve cases of cold beer thus increasing your volume of sale over a 6 or 12 pack.
Liquor display Liquor comes in a variety of bottle sizes, as well as a variety of offerings. In addition, liquor value per bottle range from the value brands to the high end top shelf brands… and that is traditional how they are displayed by value from the top shelf to the lowest shelves housing the value or economy brands. The size of fifths to half gallons make them difficult to be shoplifted and can be arrayed on shelves away from the cashier. However, anything smaller than a fifth can easily be pocketed and should be placed closer to the sales counter. Quite often mini’s are displayed on shelves behind the cashier; however, we would suggest that at least some mini offerings are presented to the customer for self service either in bins at the front of sales counter or on a display in from of the counter – often customers are reluctant to ask to purchase these cute convenient “trial” size bottles but will make them an impulse purchase.

Wine Display The amount and varieties of wine available to today’s consumer is mind boggling. Your customers and distributors will help guide you as to which wines to offer for sale. However, it is important to allocate sufficient space and racks to present a variety of wine for your customers to peruse – although most wine drinkers have a favorite, they often can be influenced into trying a different brand or vintage. Also, you cannot forget to allocate space to the larger wine offerings that include “jugs” and other unconventional packaging.

Specialties A somewhat new category in liquor store presentation is the various unconventional offerings; these are often associated with celebrations and or parties. These offerings are often an impulse buy and should be located on a prominent display close to both the entry and point of sale in order to display and then remind your customers that they are available.
Convenience Items As a liquor store you have the opportunity to upsell your clients a variety of items to accompany the beverage sale. These items range from mixers, snacks/chips, ice, soft drinks, tobacco products, and lottery… these items should be located at the front of the store as it will serve to remind your clients to purchase them “while they are there”
Check out Counter The checkout area is the final point of contact with customers and presents a final opportunity for additional sales. Providing shelves at the front of the counter, as well as stacked bins adjacent to the counter area allow for the presentation of impulse items encourage last-minute purchases.

The design and construction of your Liquor Store may seem like a daunting task. However, Northstar Commercial Construction has be working with Liquor Store Owners in all counties in Maryland including Baltimore, Howard, Charles, Prince Georges and Anne Arundel for over 20 years
We have the experience and knowledge to offer you complete design/build service from preparing the permit drawings, submitting for construction permits, and completing the construction as a comprehensive and complete package.